After singing at weddings for a few years, he joined with several other choristers to form a group named The Mistletones in 1980. He also sang the national anthems at Toronto Blue Jays and Toronto Maple Leafs games since 1988 and continues to do so. From 1984 through 1992 he worked as a circulation representative for the Toronto Sun, Conrad Black heard him singing at company parties. Black, along with other executives, financed McDermott's independent recording of "Danny Boy" in 1992, which was picked up and released in North America by EMI Music Canada. Following this unexpected success, McDermott decided to pursue a professional singing career.
John has annual concerts world wide, and can be seen from Toronto, to Boston, to New York, to Glasgow.
McDermott performed his first concert at the Rebecca Cohn Theatre on October 5, 1993 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. From there he continued to tour the rest of Canada, performing as an opening act for The Chieftains. Throughout 1994 he went on a tour of Australia and New Zealand, following the great success of Danny Boy, which had been ranked Number 1 on the charts there and achieved triple platinum in New Zealand. Next, in 1995 he went on a tour of the United Kingdom with The Seekers.
At this point in his career he was becoming recognized internationally, so he started to tour regularly as a solo act rather than an opening act. He also appeared at several special events including the D-Day ceremonies in France in 1995, and the US Democratic National Convention in 1996. He has also appeared on TV several times, both as a host of CBC Television concert specials in 1997, and in his own television special titled John McDermott: A Time to Remember which aired on PBS in 2002.
McDermott formed The Irish Tenors and after performing a large concert in Dublin, Ireland in 1998, they spent some time touring the US, appearing on TV, and releasing a gold record.
Since leaving The Irish Tenors, McDermott continues to tour extensively throughout the World, performing with his own group and with the great symphonies of the world. He continues to work to support the veteran community in the United States and in Canada. In 2000 McDermott dedicated McDermott House in Washington DC, a transitional home for homeless veterans. His latest release Journeys-Bringing Buddy Home was recorded to help support fundraising for Fisher House Boston and launch the Canadian initiative for an outreach centre for Canadian Veterans.
Massacre Of Glencoe
John McDermott Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
O cruel is the snow
That sweeps glencoe
And covers the grave o donald
And cruel was the foe
That raped glencoe
And murderd the house of
Macdonald
They came in a blizzard
We offered them heat
A roof oer their heads
Dry shoes for their feet
We wined them and dined them
They ate of our meat
And they slept in the house of
Macdonald
(chorus)
They came from fort william
Wi murder in mind
The campbells had orders
King william had signed
Put all to the sword
These words were underlined
And leave none alive called
Macdonald
(chorus)
They came in the night
When the men were asleep
This band o argyles
Through snow soft and deep
Like murdering foxes
Among helpless sheep
They slaughtered the house of
Macdonald
(chorus)
Some died in their beds
At the hand of the foe
Some fled in the night
And were lost in the snow
Some lived to accuse him
That struck the first blow
But gone was the house of
Macdonald
The song "Massacre of Glencoe" by John McDermott is a poignant account of the massacre that took place in the highlands of Scotland on February 13, 1692. The lyrics describe how the Macdonalds, a clan of the Scottish highlands, were betrayed and slaughtered by the Campbells, who were sworn enemies of the Macdonalds. The song highlights the treachery of the Campbells, who were guests of the Macdonalds and were offered warmth and hospitality only to turn around and murder their hosts.
The opening lines of the chorus reveal the cruel fate that awaited the Macdonalds: "O cruel is the snow that sweeps Glencoe, and covers the grave of Donald." The snow is a metaphor for the treachery and betrayal that led to the massacre. The second part of the chorus states that the real cruelty was inflicted by the Campbells, who raped and murdered the Macdonald family. The lyrics go on to describe how the Campbells were invited into the Macdonald's home and shown hospitality, only to turn around and massacre the entire family, leaving no survivors.
The second verse describes how the Campbells were ordered by the King to put all the Macdonalds to the sword. The tone of the verse is haunting, as it describes how the Macdonalds were murdered while they slept. The third verse highlights the ruthlessness of the Campbells, who were described as "murdering foxes among helpless sheep." The verse ends with the chilling image of the Macdonald family being completely wiped out, leaving no one alive to carry on their legacy.
Overall, the lyrics of "Massacre of Glencoe" by John McDermott offer a poignant and heartbreaking account of one of the darkest moments in Scottish history. The treachery and betrayal of the Campbells is depicted vividly, as is the tragic fate of the Macdonalds.
Line by Line Meaning
O cruel is the snow
That sweeps glencoe
And covers the grave o donald
The snowfall that covers Glencoe is so devastatingly cruel, it hides the grave of the fallen Donald.
And cruel was the foe
That raped glencoe
And murderd the house of
Macdonald
The enemy who attacked Glencoe and killed the MacDonalds was beyond cruel.
They came in a blizzard
We offered them heat
A roof oer their heads
Dry shoes for their feet
We wined them and dined them
They ate of our meat
And they slept in the house of
Macdonald
When the enemy came in a snowstorm, we showed them kindness and gave them shelter, food, and drink. They stayed in the MacDonald's house.
They came from fort william
Wi murder in mind
The campbells had orders
King william had signed
Put all to the sword
These words were underlined
And leave none alive called
Macdonald
The enemy, who came from Fort William, had orders from King William to kill all of the MacDonalds and left no one alive.
They came in the night
When the men were asleep
This band o argyles
Through snow soft and deep
Like murdering foxes
Among helpless sheep
They slaughtered the house of
Macdonald
The enemy came in the night, when everyone was asleep. They attacked like a pack of wolves, killing the MacDonalds mercilessly.
Some died in their beds
At the hand of the foe
Some fled in the night
And were lost in the snow
Some lived to accuse him
That struck the first blow
But gone was the house of
Macdonald
Some of the MacDonalds died in their beds, some fled in the night but were lost in the snow, and some lived to tell the story of who struck the first blow. However, the MacDonald house was no more.
Contributed by Jayden G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Maximilien François De Robespierre
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The massacre of glencoe
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THE MASSACRE OF GLENCOE LYRICS
Oh cruel is the snow that sweeps Glencoe
And covers the grave o' Donald
And cruel was the foe that raped Glencoe
And murdered the house o' MacDonald
(chorus)
They came in the blizzard, we offered them heat
A roof o'er their heads, dry shoes for their feet
We wined them and dined them, they ate o' our meat
And slept in the house O' MacDonald
(chorus)
They came from Fort William with murder mind
The Campbell had orders, King William had signed
Put all to the sword, these words underlined
And leave none alive called MacDonald
(chorus)
They came in the night when the men were asleep
That band of Argyles, through snow soft and deep
Like murdering foxes, among helpless sheep
They slaughtered the house o' MacDonald
(chorus)
Some died in their beds at the hands of the foe
Some fled in the night, were lost in the snow
Some lived to accuse him, what struck the first blow
But gone was the house of MacDonald
(Chorus ×2)
Nahanni-Yukon
Hello , Lady Grey Carolyn ,
It has been a few years since , we have touched base .. :)))
You were the 1st person to send me this Video , just before , I was being Deployed to Afghanistan , as , a young Canadian Female Medical Officer ..
It has been quite a few years , now , many Deployments , since ... But , I never forgot this Song & what it meant ..
I , Finally got to re-capture this version ,,, the one you sent on to me , all those years ago .. Still , is my Favorite ...
Thank-you !! I am still greatful !!
I hope this finds you & Yours Well ..
All My Very Best ,
Nahanni
Davy Mckeown
Heard this song when I was a young soldier, REME attached to the Royal highland fusilier's whist in army jail for some minor misdemeanour. In our cell there was a tradition that after lights out everyone had to entertain the rest of us miscreants with a joke or a song. A good friend of mine sang sang this song, Iv'e never in my twenty four years as a British soldier witnessed so many men weeping openly. That includes the funerals I regrettably had to attend. Thank you Billy, it was a privilege to serve with you.
Hiwa Ali
I came to Scotland three weeks ago and passed by Glencoe. The driver who was our tour guide narrated this story and played this song afterwards. It was absolutely touching, a heavenly experience that makes your hair stand on one end. My respect and love to Scotland and the Scots!
P B
I know your post is 6 years old, but my guide did the same, except after telling us the story he added "My wife is a McDonald and says she wants to be buried here, I hope she gets here soon." Lol
Hiwa Ali
@P B maybe my guide and yours were the same after all :D
Christian Ferrando
I went to Glencoe 2 weeks ago, and our guide also did this
wrakowic
The guides have their script that will be repeated for eternity, with small variations or different jokes. Nevertheless it is an interesting story and a beautiful song.
Marlene Boyd-Wilson
No words can express the sorrow it is to feel the treachery done to those generous, hospitable folk of years gone by. I am of Campbell blood and know not if it were men from my particular clan who committed such a dastardly deed. If so, I am sorry and send apologies from New Zealand.
Sterling Campbell
Don't be. There's more to the real story than the BS in this song
Nancy Rankin
Forgiveness is always necessary to replenish our souls even under these horrific circumstances. My relative Duncan Rankin was reported to be the first killed as he attempted to escape across the Coe River.
Owaissa Althea Dickey
I love this song and John McDermott. My respect to the MacDonald/McDonald Clan and all of Scotland.